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Tessie Jean "Tess" Harper is an American actress. She was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for her first film role in 1983's Tender Mercies, and for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the 1986 film Crimes of the Heart. Her other film appearances include Flashpoint (1984), Ishtar (1987), Far North (1988), and No Country for Old Men (2007). She also had a recurring role on the first three seasons of Breaking Bad (2008–10).
Birth Name
Tessie Jean Washam
Born
Tuesday, 15 August 1950
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| American Outlaws | Loretta Hillhouse | 2023 |
| Good Side of Bad | Mary Ellen | 2023 |
| Rosebud Lane | Sugar | 2023 |
| Our Almost Completely True Story | Tess | 2022 |
| The Long Shadow | Mama Doris | 2020 |
| The Evening Hour | Dorothy Freeman | 2020 |
| El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie | Mrs. Pinkman | 2019 |
| Burden | Hazel / Hazel Griffin | 2018 |
| Aussie Girl | Dorthea | 2017 |
| Hello, My Name Is Frank | Aunt Flossie | 2016 |
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| American Outlaws | Loretta Hillhouse | 2023 |
| Good Side of Bad | Mary Ellen | 2023 |
| Rosebud Lane | Sugar | 2023 |
| Our Almost Completely True Story | Tess | 2022 |
| The Long Shadow | Mama Doris | 2020 |
| The Evening Hour | Dorothy Freeman | 2020 |
| El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie | Mrs. Pinkman | 2019 |
| Burden | Hazel / Hazel Griffin | 2018 |
| Aussie Girl | Dorthea | 2017 |
| Hello, My Name Is Frank | Aunt Flossie | 2016 |
| The Perfect Guy | Mrs. McCarthy | 2015 |
| How to Get Away with Murder | Sheila Miller, Shelia Miller | 2014 |
| Frank | Frank's Mom | 2014 |
| True Detective | Mrs. Kelly | 2014 |
| Nikki & Nora: The N&N Files | Mary Delaney | 2013 |
| Sunlight Jr. | Kathleen | 2013 |
| Straight A's | Mother | 2013 |
| The Christmas Heart | Elizabeth | 2012 |
| Revenge | Carole Miller | 2011 |
| A Christmas Wish | Trudy Willis | 2011 |
| Mythic Journeys | Storyteller | 2009 |
| Fatal Secrets | Naomi | 2009 |
| Crash | Wendy Olinville | 2008 |
| Breaking Bad | Mrs. Pinkman | 2008 |
| In Plain Sight | A.U.S.A. Rolly | 2008 |
| No Country for Old Men | Loretta Bell | 2007 |
| Private Practice | Augusta King | 2007 |
| Broken | Clare | 2007 |
| Saving Sarah Cain | Miriam Esh | 2007 |
| Kiss the Bride | Barbara Davis | 2007 |
| Jam | Ruby | 2007 |
| Brothers & Sisters | Beth Ridge | 2006 |
| Broken Bridges | Dixie Rose Delton | 2006 |
| Karla | Molly Czehowicz | 2006 |
| Jesus, Mary and Joey | Liz O`Callahan / Liz O'Callahan | 2006 |
| Loggerheads | Elizabeth Austin / Elizabeth | 2005 |
| Ghost Whisperer | Ellen Wilkins | 2005 |
| Criminal Minds | Dinah Troy | 2005 |
| Grey's Anatomy | Pam Nelson | 2005 |
| Angel in the Family | Mrs. Nelly Tomkins | 2004 |
| Lonely Place | 2004 | |
| Jack & Bobby | Karen Carmichael, Former Vice President Karen Carmichael | 2004 |
| Cold Case | Sharon Lertola '09 | 2003 |
| One Tree Hill | May Scott | 2003 |
| Without a Trace | Mrs. Spade | 2002 |
| Beyond the Prairie, Part 2: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder | Older Laura Ingalls Wilder | 2002 |
| The Rising Place | Rebecca Hodge | 2001 |
| The Division | Polly Danko | 2001 |
| Morning | Margaret | 2001 |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Julia Barrett | 2000 |
| The in Crowd | Dr. Amanda Giles | 2000 |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Mrs. Hallander | 1999 |
| Judging Amy | Barbara Nissman | 1999 |
| Beyond the Prairie: The True Story of Laura Ingalls Wilder | Narrator / Older Laura Ingalls Wilder | 1999 |
| Dirty Laundry | Beth Greene | 1998 |
| The Jackal | The First Lady | 1997 |
| Cracker: Mind Over Murder | Lea Ann Garner | 1997 |
| Gun | Virginia | 1997 |
| A Child's Wish | Joanna Chandler | 1997 |
| The Killing Secret | Tina Decapprio | 1997 |
| Early Edition | Lois Hobson | 1996 |
| A Stranger to Love | Linda Grant | 1996 |
| The Road to Galveston | Julia Archer | 1996 |
| Michael Jackson: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory | Mother (segment "Black or White") | 1995 |
| Legend | Heron Twin #2 | 1995 |
| Death in Small Doses | Asst. D.A. Jerri Sims | 1995 |
| Touched by an Angel | Betsy Baxter | 1994 |
| The Suzanne Somers Show | Self | 1994 |
| Christy | Fairlight Spencer | 1994 |
| Grace Under Fire | Joan | 1993 |
| Walker, Texas Ranger | Katie Malloy | 1993 |
| Dangerous: The Short Films | Mother (Black or White) / Mother ('Black or White' video) | 1993 |
| Willing to Kill: The Texas Cheerleader Story | Verna Heath | 1992 |
| My New Gun | Kimmy Hayes | 1992 |
| The Turning | Martha Harnish | 1992 |
| In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion | Vickie Singer | 1992 |
| The Man in the Moon | Abigail Trant | 1991 |
| The Hidden Room | Dede | 1991 |
| My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys | Cheryl | 1991 |
| Daddy's Dyin'... Who's Got the Will? | Sara Lee | 1990 |
| Incident at Dark River | Betty McFall | 1989 |
| Her Alibi | Sally Blackwood | 1989 |
| Unconquered | Mrs. Mary Flowers / Mary Flowers | 1989 |
| Far North | Rita | 1988 |
| Little Girl Lost | Clara Brady | 1988 |
| Criminal Law | Det. Stillwell / Det. Jean Stillwell | 1988 |
| Thirtysomething | Nancy's Sister Deborah | 1987 |
| Ishtar | Willa | 1987 |
| Daddy | Ann Burnette | 1987 |
| The 59th Annual Academy Awards | Self - Nominee | 1987 |
| Crimes of the Heart | Chick Boyle | 1986 |
| L.A. Law | Patricia M. Pittman | 1986 |
| Nightlife | Self | 1986 |
| Promises to Keep | Gwen Palmer | 1985 |
| American Masters | Self | 1985 |
| The Twilight Zone | Sarah (segment "Quarantine") | 1985 |
| A Summer to Remember | Jeannie Wyler | 1985 |
| Reckless Disregard | Meredith Craig | 1985 |
| Murder, She Wrote | Irene Rutledge | 1984 |
| Flashpoint | Ellen | 1984 |
| The 56th Annual Academy Awards | Self - Audience Member | 1984 |
| Celebrity | Susan French | 1984 |
| Silkwood | Linda Dawson | 1983 |
| Amityville 3-D | Nancy Baxter | 1983 |
| Chiefs | Carrie Lee | 1983 |
| Tender Mercies | Rosa Lee | 1983 |
| Starflight: The Plane That Couldn't Land | Janet Briggs | 1983 |
| Kentucky Woman | Lorna Whateley | 1983 |
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1987 | Oscar | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Nominated |
| 1984 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture | Nominated |
